Macbeth Act 5 Scenes 4 9 CD 2

Macbeth Act 5 Scenes 4 -9 CD 2 40: 05 -End

Act 5 Scene 4 In the country near Birnam Wood, Malcolm talks with the English lord Siward and his officers about Macbeth’s plan to defend the fortified castle. They decide that each soldier should cut down a bough of the forest and carry it in front of him as they march to the castle, thereby disguising their numbers

Act 5 Scene 5 Within the castle, Macbeth blusteringly orders that banners be hung and boasts that his castle will repel the enemy. A woman’s cry is heard, and Seyton appears to tell Macbeth that the queen is dead. Shocked, Macbeth speaks numbly about the passage of time and declares famously that life is “a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing” (5. 5. 25– 27). A messenger enters with astonishing news: the trees of Birnam Wood are advancing toward Dunsinane. Enraged and terrified, Macbeth recalls the prophecy that said he could not die till Birnam Wood moved to Dunsinane. Resignedly, he declares that he is tired of the sun and that at least he will die fighting.

Act 5 Scene 6 Surrounding the castle, Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, and their army enter with boughs They throw their boughs down and draw their swords Act 5 Scene 7 Macbeth is owning it on the battlefield Young Siward approaches and they fight and Young Siward is slain

Act 5 Scene 8 Macduff emerges and searches the chaos frantically for Macbeth, whom he longs to cut down personally. He dives again into the battle Macbeth quotes the prophecies While fighting Macduff reveals that “from his mother’s womb / Untimely ripped” (5. 10. 15– 16). Macbeth refuses to give up even though he sees that it is all lost Macbeth is slain by Macduff

Act 5 Scene 9 Malcolm and Siward walk together in the castle, which they have now effectively captured. Ross tells Siward that his son is dead. Macduff emerges with Macbeth’s head in his hand proclaims Malcolm King of Scotland. Malcolm declares that all his thanes will be made earls, according to the English system of peerage. They will be the first such lords in Scottish history. Cursing Macbeth and his “fiend-like” queen, Malcolm calls all those around him his friends and invites them all to see him crowned at Scone (5. 11. 35).